GECOM Registration Clerk, Denise Babb– Cum- mings; and

Amerindian Development… FOCUS ON GUYANA’S FIRST PEOPLE

Every hinterland, riverain household to benefit from economic relief grant

Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai has reassured that every household in riverain and hinterland villages will receive a $25,000 cash grant.

The Minister was adamant that multiple households can live under one roof as she responded to the numerous concerns of residents while recently in Campbelltown, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). There are 3,525 households in Region Eight, according to the list produced by the Ministry of Finance, which means a mammoth $88,225,000 will be circulating in the Region when the distribution concludes.

Minister Sukhai said the economic relief, which government is giving, will reach all of the intended beneficiaries. “I assure that every household living under one roof will get the grant. Once you are a different family you must be cooking your own pot. If you are cooking your own pot and living under the same roof, you will get separate grants because you are not the same household,” she stated.

Meanwhile, residents are pleased with this initiative of Government that seeks to cushion the effects of the rising cost of living to some of the most vulnerable sections of the population.

The distribution of the cash grant is currently underway in hinterland communities.

This is just one initiative of Government that seeks to financially relieve citizens.

The distribution of the cash grant for school children commenced on Tuesday (August 2, 2022). This means every parent and guardian will receive for every child registered in a school, a total of $30,000. This is an increased from the $19,000 received last year. The ‘Because We Care’ cash grant has been increased by over 50 per cent, from $15,000 to $25,000 while the school uniform grant moved from $4,000 to $5,000.

These grants that seek to relieve the burden from citizens, exemplifies the caring nature of Government and concretises its narrative of bettering the lives of all Guyanese.

Campbelltown Village Council receives tractor to bolster agriculture production

Residents of Campbelltown, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) now have the use of a brand-new tractor to advance their economic development.

Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai travelled to the village and handed over the keys to Toshao, Jillian Williams.

This is part of the Government’s drive to increase agricultural production countrywide and assist Amerindian communities to prosper.

Minister Sukhai highlighted that the vehicle will aid in the economic upliftment of the village. She said, “It is for agriculture use to fetch your produce but you can use it for hire to fetch logs and for transportation so that the village can earn money.” Sukhai also urged the village council, which will be tasked with managing the use of the tractor, to ensure that it is frequently maintained.

The Ministry has trained a tractor driver in the village to operate the vehicle. This is part of a larger tractor distribution initiative launched by Government to increase agricultural production in the hinterland.

So far, a total of 113 tractors have been distributed across Amerindian communities.

A brush cutter and other items were also handed over to the community.

Another 65 ICT hubs to be completed soon

Residents across the hinterland will soon be able to be educated right in their villages, as the PPP/C Government is sparing no effort to complete the construction and operationalisation of Information Communications Technology (ICT) hubs in 200 communities.

In the PPP/C’s manifesto, government committed to developing the infrastructure, and providing the enabling environment to promote the use of ICT across Guyana.

ICT HUBS

Since returning to office, Government allocated millions of dollars to revive the programme and to date, has outfitted 25 Hubs that are fully functional. By the end of August, almost 100 are expected to be functional.

Training is also being provided for persons in the various communities in ICT so that they can render assistance should there be any issues arising at the various hubs. That training is expected to commence in August.

Additionally, efforts are also being made to improve the quality and strength of the internet bandwidth hinterland residents receive.

DIGITAL DIVIDE

The PPP/C, on the campaign trail, committed to bridging the digital divide between hinterland and the coast, including the resuscitation of the ICT hub programme started by a previous PPP/C Government.

Bridging the divide would see some 215 hinterland and riverine communities benefitting from internet connectivity, as well as reliable energy.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for energy and Information and Communications Technology (ICT), has assured hinterland communities of government’s commitment to bridging the energy and digital divide. “We have earmarked and expended huge amounts of money between the period August 2, 2020 to present, to bridge the energy divide and bridge the digital divide. We have committed, we will remain committed towards seeing all the projects and programmes to its conclusion so that collectively all of Guyana, including you, and your communities will benefit from these programmes and projects,” the Prime Minister said as he addressed the National Toshaos Conference.

ENERGY

Regarding electricity, the Prime Minister said the hinterland communities are located in off-grid areas as such are not connected to the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System. However, he informed them that government is working on a number of solar and hydro energy solutions.

Government is constructing a 1.5 MW hydropower plant at Kumu, Region Nine and is working to upgrade the 700-kw capacity of the defunct Moco Moco hydropower plant also in that region. Over $600 million was earmarked in budget 2022 for the construction of both projects. The 150-kw hydropower scheme at Kat, Region Eight, is also expected to be completed soon.

The Prime Minister pointed out that government will be expanding the Hinterland Electrification Programme. In Budget 2022, some $450 million was budgeted to expand and upgrade the hinterland electrification and power generation capacity through the purchase of generators, and the expansion of distribution lines.

Additionally, the installation of 30,000 solar energy panels in hinterland and riverine communities is expected to commence early 2023 that will benefit over 136,000 residents.